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THAMES TIDAL BARRIER
It looks like a stunning piece of architectural art, but its purpose is deathly serious. For
centuries London lived in a delicate balance with the River Thames. The river brought
food, transportation, communication, and commerce to the city. But occasionally the river
would exact a toll from the city, overflowing its banks and taking lives and property in re-
turn. One of those floods came in 1953.
Three hundred people lost their lives downstream from the city, and thousands of acres of
productive farmland were rendered useless by the salt water. London's response was seemingly
simple – a wall separating London from the ravenous sea. But the simple idea was complicated
to implement.
The Tidal Barrier had to open and close quickly. It had to permit significant water flow in
both directions to keep the ecological balance. And it had to allow ships to pass without en-
cumbrance. The result is a line of ten gates that can be raised and lowered at will. Underneath
each of the barrier's stainless steel domes is a machine much like a construction crane.
When it moves its arms, a massive horizontal drum rotates. This drum had a large notch in
the center of it. When the arms are extended, the drum rotates so the notch faces up, allowing
ships and water to pass through it. When the arm retracts, the drum turns on its axis and the un-
notched side of the drum rises out of the water, blocking the river.
Of course, all that water has to go somewhere, so the banks of the Thames have been raised
for 50 miles to protect people downstream from being inundated. More importantly, even when
a serious threat is predicted, the gates are closed slowly. Closing the barrier at its maximum rate
would create a wave in the river that could do more damage. There are four main gates at the
center of the river. Each is 200-feet / 61 meters long. Those are flanked by a pair of 102-foot /
31 meter gates. And on each end are two more gates, which allow water, but not ships to pass.
• 1972 – The government is given the authority to construct a tidal barrier.
• 1974 – Construction begins.
• 1982 – Construction is completed.
• 1983 – The barrier is successfully used for the first time.
• 1984 – The ceremonial opening of the tidal barrier.
ELY CATHEDRAL
In 673 St Etheldreda, Queen of Northumbria, founded a monastery in the centre of the Fens,
on the Isle of Ely where she was Abbess until her death in 679. Some 44 years later, in 1081,
work on the present building was begun, under the guidance of Abbott Simeon. It was com-
pleted in 1189 and the Cathedral now stands as a remarkable example of Romanesque architec-
ture.
Undoubtedly, the most outstanding feature of the Cathedral is the Octagon, built to replace
the Norman tower, which collapsed in 1322. The scale, engineering skill and sheer beauty are
breathtaking and we can only marvel at the vision of Alan Walsingham in designing such a
piece of architecture.
The 14th Century Lady Chapel with its intricate stone carvings is the largest in England.
And there is the Prior's Door, the painted Nave ceiling, Bishop West's Chantry Chapel and St
Ovin's Cross – the only piece of stonework of Saxon origin in the Cathedral.
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